This study evaluated the protective effect of Prunus mume polysaccharide (PMP) against Salmonella spp.-induced enteritis in mice. Twenty-four ICR mice were randomly assigned to a control group (CD), model group (MD), and PMP treatment group (TD), with 8 mice in each group. Mice in the TD group received PMP (100mg/kg) by oral gavage for 14 consecutive days, while those in the CD and MD groups received an equal volume of normal saline. On day 14, mice in the MD and TD groups were challenged with Salmonella spp. (1×10⁷ CFU/kg), and samples were collected 24h later. Compared with the MD group, PMP treatment alleviated body weight loss, reduced splenomegaly and intestinal bacterial burden, and attenuated jejunal and ileal mucosal injury. PMP significantly increased serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity and decreased interleukin-6 (P< 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis showed that PMP treatment was associated with decreased relative abundance of Staphylococcus and increased relative abundance of Turicibacter. In addition, PMP significantly restored the mRNA and protein expression of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-3 (P< 0.05), indicating improved intestinal barrier integrity. PMP also reduced the mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT and STAT1 to different extents（P< 0.05. These results indicate that PMP alleviated Salmonella spp.-induced enteritis in mice, possibly by improving antioxidant status, reducing IL-6, modulating gut microbiota composition, and restoring intestinal barrier-related molecules.

To Cite This Article: Yuai Y, Miao H, Jiayi L, Kang W, Alghamdi RA, Momenah MA, Mostafa YS and Yongke S, 2026. the efficacy and mechanism of Prunus mume ethanol extract in preventing and treating Salmonella spp infection in mice. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1293-1303. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.116